CLEVELAND -- With the first round scheduled for Thursday night, this weekend will mark the 2019 NFL Draft.
And unless anything changes between now and then, unlike recent years, the Cleveland Browns will be waiting a while to make their first pick.
After entering the past three drafts with a top-two selection -- including the No. 1 overall picks in each of the last two years -- the Browns don't currently lay claim to a first-round selection in this year's draft, having traded the No. 17 overall pick to the New York Giants in the deal to acquire Odell Beckham Jr. As a result, the first time Cleveland will be brought the podium won't come until the second round on Friday night, when the Browns are scheduled to make the 49th overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft.
While the possibility exists that Cleveland general manager John Dorsey could make another deal to move his team back into the first round, at least for now, the Browns will be sitting Thursday out.
With that in mind, let's take a look at 10 names Cleveland could find itself choosing from when it makes its first pick of the 2019 draft on Friday night:
Justin Layne, CB, Michigan State
With the No. 4 overall pick in last year's draft, Dorsey selected a Cleveland native cornerback who spent his college career at a Big Ten school.
Might he take another?
While Denzel Ward went on to enjoy a Pro Bowl rookie season with the Browns, the starting spot opposite the former Ohio State star in the Browns remains unsettled. Terrence Mitchell was steady -- when on the field -- in 2018, but Cleveland could stand to upgrade its secondary, especially at corner.
Enter Bendectine product Justin Layne, who is coming off a productive juniors season at Michigan State in which he tallied 72 tackles, 2.5 of which came for a loss, 15 passes defended and 1 interception. At 6-foot-2 and 192 pounds, the second-team All-Big Ten selection is a bit rangier than Ward and could provide the Browns with more flexibility when it comes to defending opposing receivers.
Dre'mont Jones, DL, Ohio State
Defensive line isn't the biggest area of need on Cleveland's roster, but it is a spot where a team can never have too much help. If Dre'mont Jones slides to No. 49, the opportunity for the Browns to select a first-round talent with their second-round pick may simply be too great to pass up.
Another Cleveland native and Big Ten alum, Jones arrived at Ohio State as a defensive end but made most of his impact at the college level as defensive tackle. Last season, the St. Ignatius grad earned first-team All-Big Ten honors after tallying 43 tackles, 13.0 of which came for a loss, 8.5 sacks and 1 interception, which he returned for a touchdown.
Between Sheldon Richardson and Larry Ogunjobi, the Browns are currently set at defensive tackle but are desperate need of depth. Jones can provide that, as well as newfound versatility for multiple fronts and rush packages.
Greg Little, OT, Ole Miss
Back when the Browns still had their first-round pick, a popular projection was for Cleveland to take Ole Miss offensive tackle Greg Little, who some pegged as worthy of a top-10 selection.
Since then, the Browns have traded their first-round pick, but Little's stock has slid, meaning Cleveland may still have a chance to take the 6-foot-5, 310-pound All-SEC selection. As currently constructed, the Browns' roster possesses starting offensive tackles in Greg Robinson and Chris Hubbard, but neither player should preclude Cleveland from selecting a more long-term solution should the opportunity present itself.
David Long, CB, Michigan
Should the Browns not be intrigued with Layne -- or should he already be off the board -- they may not have to look far for a cornerback alternative. Following an All-Big Ten season at Michigan in which he tallied 6 pass defenses and 1 interception, the 5-foot-11, 196-pound prospect projects as an early-mid second-round pick.
Mack Wilson, LB, Alabama
Of the holes that still exist on the Browns' roster, linebacker might be the most glaring one. Although Cleveland won't have a shot at landing either LSU's Devin White or Michigan's Devin Bush without a trade, it could find itself in position to take a steady contributor in the second round.
A former 5-star prospect, Alabama's Mack Wilson fits that mold and possesses the versatility to play multiple linebacker positions at the next level. Last season, the 6-foot-1, 240-pound prospect earned second-team All-SEC honors after recording 65 tackles, 4.5 of which came for a loss, 2 interceptions and 5 passes defended, showcasing the playmaking ability that could bring an otherwise lacking component to the Browns' linebacking corps.
Taylor Rapp, S, Washington
Considered by some draft analysts to be the top safety in the draft, Washington's Taylor Rapp could find himself still on the board midway through the second round after a defensive line-heavy first round.
Although the Browns possess their current pair of starting safeties in Damarious Randall and Morgan Burnett, neither player is currently tied up to a long-term contract with the team. A 2-time All-Pac-12 selection, Rapp, possesses the potential to be a cornerstone in the back end of Cleveland's secondary and may simply be too talented to pass on should he slip to No. 49.
Chuma Edoga, OT, USC
Although Hubbard signed a 5-year, $36.5 million deal with the Browns last offseason, there's a potential out in his contract that exists following the upcoming year.
Last year, Dorsey used a second-round selection on Austin Corbett, who after playing sparingly as a rookie is now the team's starting right guard and he could take a similar approach by selecting USC's Chuma Edoga with the idea he'll be Cleveland's right tackle of the future.
Tytus Howard, OT, Alabama State
If the Browns do decide to use their first pick on an offensive lineman with the intent of developing him long-term, it may make sense for them to aim for upside. Although he's still raw, Alabama State's Tytus Howard is a rising talent and could provide depth to Cleveland behind Robinson and Hubbard before ultimately becoming one of their successors.
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, DB, Florida
Of the Browns' offseason losses, one of the more underrated ones was defensive back Briean Boddy-Calhoun, who signed with the Houston Texans. Boddy-Calhoun's departure leaves a void on Cleveland's roster for a versatile defensive back with the ability to play nickel, which could be filled by Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, who tallied 71 tackles, 9 of which came for a loss, 3 sacks and 4 interceptions at Florida last season.
Bobby Okereke, LB, Stanford
If Dorsey decides to use the No. 49 pick on a linebacker, Stanford's Bobby Okereke could make for an intriguing option. In 13 games last season, the 6-foot-1, 239-pound prospect recorded 94 tackles, 7.5 of which came for a loss and 3.5 sacks and his five years of experience with the Cardinal could help make him ready to contribute on the first day of his NFL career.